February 23, 2013 (Hayward, WI) – Great conditions blessed the American Birkebeiner as Caitlin Gregg (CXC) triumphed in the women’s 50km skate putting the hammer down in the final sprint over Tatjana Mannima from Estonia to take home the 2013 American Birkebeiner women’s title.

The men’s 50km FR race featured an uber-close finish with Italy’s Sergio Bonaldi and Fabio Santus tied for first while compatriots Alan Martinelli (0.3) and Florian Kostner (0.5) were just behind with top Czech skier Martin Koukal in 5th at 0.9s. Matt Liebsch from Orono, Minnesota was the best US finisher in 7th at two seconds behind.

Doug Debold (Wayzata, MN) was the fastest man in the men’s Birkie Classic while Norway’s Ingrid Saupstad was the top woman as St. Paul, Minnesota’s Claire Luby was the best American followed by Kim E. Rudd from Plymouth and Molly K. Watkins from Anchorage.

Results (brief)

Women – 58km Skate
1. Caitlin Gregg (Minneapolis, MN) 2:28:56.9
2. Tatjana Mannima (Null, Est) 2:28:57.3
3. Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury Common, VT) 2:28:58.6
4. Antonella Confortola (Zianodifiemme, Ita) 2:29:01.1
5. Nicole A Deyong (Ketchum, ID) 2:29:04.9
6. Kate Fitzgerald (Anchorage, AK) 2:30:04.4

Men – 58km Skate
1. Sergio Bonaldi (Milano, Ita) 2:09:18.1
2. Fabio Santus (Milano, Ita) 2:09:18.1
3. Alan Martinelli (Valdidentro  So, Ita) 2:09:18.4
4. Florian Kostner (Dobbiaco, Ita) 2:09:18.6
5. Martin Koukal (Null, Cze)  2:09:19.0
6. Petr Novak (Karlovy Vary, Cze) 2:09:19.1
7. Matthew E Liebsch (Orono, MN) 2:09:20.1
8. Patrick Johnson (Ketchum, ID) 2:09:20.1
9. Benoit Chauvet (Saint Gervais, Fra) 2:09:21.
10. Dmitriy Ozerskiy (Moscow Region, Rus) 2:09:21.9
11. Brian Gregg (Minneapolis, MN) 2:09:22.1 0

Men – 50km CL
1. Doug Debold (Wayzata, MN) 2:50:57.7
2. Jacob W Boyce (Duluth, MN) 2:50:16.8
3. David Chamberlain (Boulder, CO) 2:50:19.2

Women – 50km CL
1. Ingrid Saupstad (Null, Nor) 3:17:21.2
2. Claire Luby (St. Paul, MN) 3:17:16.1
3. Kim E. Rudd (Plymouth, MN) 3:21:08.7
4. Molly K. Watkins (Anchorage, AK) 3:21:33.1
5. Elizabeth D. Paddock (Missoula, MT) 3:22:08.2

Full results HERE.